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Vice President, Prison Fellowship
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Prison Fellowship Vice President Pat Nolan
But the government also gave him a relatively easy out: Plead guilty to one count and get only 33 months in prison.
Pat's reputation for integrity had been the hallmark of his 15 years as state legislator. "Should I plead guilty to a crime I did not commit?" he asked himself, knowing it would shatter both his reputation and his career. "Or should I fight for my good name?"—at the risk of losing his freedom and his family for many more years?
But as he grappled with his dilemma, only one option made sense: His wife and three children ranked highest on his priority list. "I wasn't willing to risk losing them." Pat took the plea.
That sacrificial choice set in motion a whole new mission and career path for Pat.
A New Perspective on Prisoners
As a California assemblyman, Pat had proved to be a tough law-and-order advocate. His sympathies lay with crime victims, and he pushed hard for the Victims' Bill of Rights. He was also awarded the Victims Advocate Award by Parents of Murdered Children.
He had little concern for the needs of prisoners—until he became one.
| What kind of images do YOU have of prisoners? Realistic ones, or stereotypes? |
In prison Pat experienced firsthand the indignities of being treated like warehoused property; the frustrating restrictions that pushed families toward greater isolation and alienation rather than unity and mutual support.
Says Pat, "I looked around and thought, Despite what these men have done, they are someone's husband, father, son, or brother. They are human beings created in God's image with His love." Men he would never have crossed paths within his political career were now becoming some of his closest friends.
Help for His Family
While in prison, Pat and his family were personally touched by Angel Tree®, Prison Fellowship's ministry to prisoners' families. Distraught that he would not be able to provide Christmas gifts for his two young daughters and son—worried especially that they would feel unloved and forgotten—Pat was thrilled to learn that the program would provide gifts to his children on his behalf.
A New Approach to Justice
When Pat got out of prison, his political experience—now coupled with a new understanding of prison life and the needs of prisoners and their families—made him the right person to assume leadership of Justice Fellowship, the arm of Prison Fellowship dedicated to criminal justice reform. Justice Fellowship advocates for reforms based on the principles of restorative justice found in the Bible.
Pat's commitment to victims' rights is now joined by a zealous advocacy for reforms related to prisoners, which will, in turn, help restore greater peace to our society. Justice Fellowship seeks criminal justice policies that will not simply punish offenders but will instead help restore them to their families and their communities as productive, law-abiding citizens.
Do YOU share Pat Nolan's vision for justice that restores? There are ways to get involved!
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Therefore, Pat has been instrumental in building both legislative and grassroots support to win passage of key federal legislation—including the Second Chance Act, which allots federal funding for resources to assist prisoners returning to the community; and the U.S. Prison Rape Elimination Act, which seeks to end the horrific sexual assault of prisoners by both corrections officers and other inmates. Pat currently serves on the nine-member Prison Rape Elimination Commission, which thoroughly investigated this problem and has made specific recommendations to address it.
Pat is the author of When Prisoners Return, which describes the important role the Church can play in helping prisoners get back on their feet after they are released. His opinion pieces have appeared in numerous periodicals including the Los Angeles Times, the National Law Journal, and the Washington Times. He has coauthored articles for the Notre Dame Law School Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy and the Regent Law School Law Review. He is a frequent guest on talk shows, including Hannity and Colmes, Fox Network News, Michael Reagan, Montel Williams, and Ollie North.
Pat has testified on numerous occasions before congressional committees on prison work programs, juvenile justice, prison safety, offender reintegration and religious freedom. He has also lectured at judicial conferences and legal conventions.
L.A. Times profile on Pat Nolan
If you are interested in having Pat serve as a guest speaker at your next event, please fill out our speaker request form. We will gladly follow up with you as soon as possible.
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